Essex Association of Local Councils

Police, Fire and Crime E-Bulletin

Wednesday 28th August 2024

Dear Chair, Councillors, Clerks and Partners,

Please find below the latest updates from PFCC, Essex Police and Essex County Fire & Rescue Service for the week commencing 26th August 2024.

Compensation scheme for 'zombie knives' and machetes
From 24th September 2024, new legislation comes into effect which makes it illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes as they will be added to the list of dangerous prohibited items already banned, including zombie knives, butterfly knives, Samurai swords and push daggers. The law will also cover the manufacture, supply, sale, possession and importation of these weapons.
 
Roger Hirst, PFCC and Chair of the Violence & Vulnerability Partnership, alongside partner organisations and community groups across Southend, Essex and Thurrock, has campaigned for these tighter laws to tackle zombie knives. Ahead of the new ban coming into force, anyone who has one of these weapons is being urged to hand them over – safely and legally.
 
Essex Police are participating in the scheme and anyone who owns one of these weapons is encouraged to hand it in at one of their participating stations between 26 August and 23 September, without repercussions for surrendering these potentially dangerous knives safely. 

In some cases compensation will be offered for some of the weapons, full details of the surrender scheme, a list of items covered, their definition and guidance on how to transport them safely can be found by visiting the Home Office's dedicated web page below.

More information

Alarming smoke alarm data causes concern? in Essex
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) has released alarming data highlighting a significant fire safety concern in the region. Between April 2023 and March 2024, there were 732 house fires reported in Essex, yet only 55.5% of homes had working smoke alarms. In response, the fire service is urging residents to take immediate action to protect their homes.

Read here

Have your say on what the Policing and Crime priorities and Fire and Rescue priorities should be for the next four years
Following his re-election in May, Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, is now consulting on priorities to be included in his Police and Crime Plan 2024 and his Fire and Rescue Plan 2024.  The Fire and Rescue Plan sets the strategic direction and priorities for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service for the next four years.    

The Police and Crime Plan sets the priorities for policing and crime in the county and informs Essex Police priorities. Now, all people who live and work in Essex are being asked for their views on priorities for both plans by completing a short four-minute survey. The survey will run from today, Wednesday 17th July, until Sunday 1st September 2024, and can be accessed by clicking below.

Roger Hirst, PFCC for Essex, said:
“I was honoured to be re-elected as Commissioner for another four years and hard work started immediately on building a new four year strategy for the future of policing and fire and rescue in Essex."

If you would like a hard copy of the survey please contact pfcc@essex.police.uk.

Take Part

Dispatch- Essex Police Weekly Updates
Live since 2022, the e-newsletter, Dispatch, is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for local police news – direct from the source. Essex Police officers, staff and volunteers work hard across our communities daily. But not everyone hears about it or what is being done to help their local community. Sent out weekly, direct to the subscriber's inbox, each edition is full of local news, crime prevention advice and details about where you can meet your local policing team to speak to officers about any concerns. If you are looking for something more focused on where you are based - Essex Police offer 14 district editions of Dispatch too. It’s completely free and anyone can unsubscribe at any time with the click of a button. Essex Police are looking to increase subscribers to help increase public confidence in the Force. 

It’s really easy to subscribe. Just click below and choose a newsletter to sign up to – its free!

Sign Up

RET Newsletter July 2024
The Rural Engagement Team (RET) at Essex Police has released their July newsletter. The newsletter highlights the team’s busy schedule, which included attending community events such as the Essex Schools Food and Farming day and summer fairs. The team also provided education and outreach services to children, teaching them about topics like food, farming, and rural issues.

Additionally, RET has successfully recovered stolen agricultural vehicles and encourages community members to report thefts. They recognised PC Joe McCarthy for his outstanding contributions to crime-solving and continue to partner with local organisations like the Green Lane Association.

The newsletter will highlight RET’s ongoing initiatives and encourage collaborations in the rural community. For event inquiries or advice on rural crime, contact RuraLEngagementTeam@essex.police.uk.

Read Here

EALC AGM & Conference 2024- Book Your Place!
We are excited to announce that we will be holding our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference on Thursday 26th September. This event promises to be an engaging and informative day, featuring guest speakers including the Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) team.

• Roger Hirst – Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner- Roger will discuss the PFCC's strategic priorities, outlining the new Police and Crime Plan, along with the Fire and Rescue Plan;
• Moria Bruin– Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS)- Moria will share insights on the upcoming four years, focusing on risks, opportunities, and the strategic approach to fire and rescue services;
• Andy Prophet – Deputy Chief Constable, Essex Police- Andy will address current challenges, operational priorities, and explore how we can collaborate with communities to enhance safety for all.

Q&A Session
The PFCC section of the conference will also feature a Q&A session facilitated by Jane Gardner, Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, allowing attendees to engage directly with our speakers.

In addition to the insightful discussions, participants will enjoy a hot buffet and have ample networking opportunities. We will also have exhibitor stands showcasing various resources and services.

We look forward to seeing you there as we come together to discuss important issues and strengthen our community ties. Please note- this event is for Member Councils only. If you are one of our partner organisations and wish to attend, please get in touch at- communications@ealc.gov.uk.
 

Reserve Your Place

Save the Date: Community Safety Event
 We are pleased to announce that on Tuesday 3^rd December 2024, the EALC and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner will jointly host an all-day Community Safety Event.
 
This event is specifically designed for parish and town councils, offering a valuable opportunity to discuss critical crime prevention initiatives and volunteering opportunities, share best practices, and strengthen our collective efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities.
 
We encourage you to attend this important event. Further details will be provided in due course.

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is committed to engaging with the public of Essex around policing, crime, fire and rescue services. These meetings provide members of the public with the chance to ask questions about what is happening in their area.
Questions can be sent in advance to PFCC@essex.police.uk or posted at the event on the night.
 
The next Public Meeting is: BRAINTREE
Date: Monday 9th September 2024
Time: 7-8pm
Where: Queens Hall, Chipping Hill, Halstead, CO9 2BY